National Center for Science Education

Dear Friends of NCSE,
The effort to repeal Louisiana's antievolution law was stymied in
committee. Creationism is officially unwelcome in Britain's new free
schools. Previously in Louisiana, the Baton Rouge Advocate endorsed
the effort to repeat the state's antievolution law, while Barbara
Forrest explained in detail why the effort is necessary.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
Kentucky plans to grant tax incentives to a creationist theme park.
Meanwhile, Missouri's antievolution bill died in committee, NCSE is
offering a preview of Steve Jones's The Darwin Archipelago, and seats
are still available for NCSE's next trip down the Grand Canyon.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
Support for the effort to repeal Louisiana's antievolution law is
mounting. Plus: new poll data from Britain; the NAGT adds its voice
for evolution; and a preview of The Darwinian Tourist. And seats are
still available for NCSE's next trip down the Grand Canyon!

Dear Friends of NCSE,
Kenneth R. Miller is to receive the Stephen Jay Gould Prize.
Supplementary biology materials submitted for approval in Texas are
"laced with creationist arguments." A new poll offers insight on
public opinion on evolution and creationism globally. And no fewer
than forty-two Nobel-prize-winning scientists call for a repeal of
Louisiana's antievolution law.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
Good news from all over. Tennessee's "monkey bill" is on legislative
hold in the state senate. There are still seats available on the NCSE
expedition down the Grand Canyon. Tennessee's antievolution
legislation was criticized twice in the pages of the Knoxville News
Sentinel. Louisiana's antievolution law is the target of a repeal
effort -- led by a high school senior. And the first issue of Reports
of the National Center for Science Education in its new on-line format
is now available.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
One in six Americans would ban books discussing evolution from school
libraries, according to a new poll. Florida Today editorially
denounces the antievolution bill in Florida. Plus additions to NCSE's
YouTube Channel and to Voices for Evolution.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
The antievolution bills in Tennessee advance, but the antievolution
bill in New Mexico is dead. NCSE presents a preview of Berkman and
Plutzer's Evolution, Creationism, and the Battle to Control America's
Classrooms, a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Education
claims -- wrongly -- that creationism is included in the Alabama state
science standards, and the Indiana Department of Education offers its
voice for evolution.

Dear Friends of NCSE,
A Friend of Darwin award for Niles Eldredge. Plus the latest poll on
creationism in Canada, reactions to the antievolution bill in Florida,
and a new issue of Evolution: Education and Outreach.

RSS Syndication

Antievolutionists Say the Darndest Things

Antievolutionists often express outrage over alleged incivility from those who oppose their efforts to evade the establishment clause of the First Amendment. But they have no difficulty in dishing out the abuse themselves. Here is a sample from the Invidious Comparisons thread that documents egregious behavior on the part of the religious antievolution advocates.

IDC advocate Mark Hartwig:

The intimidation tactics, however, signal something important about Darwinists. That "something" was explained in an insightful little piece by one A.J. Obrdlik. Published in 1942, it was a study of "gallows humor" in Czechoslovakia during the Nazi occupation. In that article, Obrdlik made a very keen observation:

Gallows humor is a reliable index of the morale of the oppressed whereas the reaction to it on the part of the oppressors tells a long story about the actual strength of the dictators: If they can afford to ignore it, they are strong; if they react wildly with anger, striking their victims with severe reprisals and punishment, they are not sure of themselves, no matter how much they display their might on the surface.

With the growing success of the Wedge, I'm sure we're going to see a lot more of this stuff. But Darwinist tactics will become a lot less intimidating as people realize that they signify not strength but panic.